Incoming! The New Equipment Thread

mindhead1 said:
Damn. I couldn’t resist. I’d been eyeing one of these since I picked up a BHK Preamp on close out a couple of months ago.

www.psaudio.com

DirectStream DAC MK1 - Refurbished

In response to the incredible demand for our highly sought-after Directstream DAC MKII, we are delighted to announce that we have a collection of preloved Directstream DAC MK1 units. At PS Audio, we consider it a true privilege to offer these units the opportunity to find a new loving home. We...
www.psaudio.com www.psaudio.com
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The DirectStream MK1 DAC arrived today. I got it connected to the BHK Preamp and started putting it through its paces. Out of the box it sounds really good. Soundstage and imaging are excellent. Everything sounds full and there is good space in the sound if that makes sense. You can hear all the instruments distinctly.

It really showed it stuff listening to Niel Young - Down by the River. The dueling guitar solos and bass line in that song can get jammed up on some systems. With the DirectStream DAC I could hear each of the instruments very clearly. Sounded great. Looking forward to the sound improvements other have mentioned as the DAC burns in.

I'll post a picture later this weekend after I reorganize my rack to fit the DAC in.
 
SnowmaNick said:
One of my locals recently picked Linn up and have an LP12 on active display. (Soundings in Greenwood Village, CO)

I like the idea of a table that can “advance” with a person over time, but Linn takes the cake on creating Audiophile Nervosa. Suspended, modular, finicky, they’ve been around forever, so the available used components are all over the place in price. No thank you. I love the AR and Thorens they were inspired by though.
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I think it’s really just two different types of customers.

One that loves to tinker and learn the machine inside and out. The hot rod specialist.

And one that simply loves the table, doesn’t modify it for years at a time, and will only let a certified tech work on it.

If I got a Linn, I would be never touch it until it needs it. I’d buy new, and when it needed maintenance or a new stylus or something every 5-8 years I’d call the dealer, set up the service appointment, and then say “while we’re at it, let’s talk about a new arm/plinth/power supply/chassis/etc”

So instead of a new table every several years, I’d just get new parts and upgrades for the Linn.
 
displayname said:
I think it’s really just two different types of customers.

One that loves to tinker and learn the machine inside and out. The hot rod specialist.

And one that simply loves the table, doesn’t modify it for years at a time, and will only let a certified tech work on it.

If I got a Linn, I would be never touch it until it needs it. I’d buy new, and when it needed maintenance or a new stylus or something every 5-8 years I’d call the dealer, set up the service appointment, and then say “while we’re at it, let’s talk about a new arm/plinth/power supply/chassis/etc”

So instead of a new table every several years, I’d just get new parts and upgrades for the Linn.
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The later for sure. I’m very lucky to only be 40 minutes away from arguably the best LP12 specialist in the UK, so I’d never dream of doing anything on it myself. The modular approach to LP12 improvement is great, and with a good dealer you can test pretty much every option and combination to see what suits your budget and ears.
 
mindhead1 said:
The DirectStream MK1 DAC arrived today. I got it connected to the BHK Preamp and started putting it through its paces. Out of the box it sounds really good. Soundstage and imaging are excellent. Everything sounds full and there is good space in the sound if that makes sense. You can hear all the instruments distinctly.

It really showed it stuff listening to Niel Young - Down by the River. The dueling guitar solos and bass line in that song can get jammed up on some systems. With the DirectStream DAC I could hear each of the instruments very clearly. Sounded great. Looking forward to the sound improvements other have mentioned as the DAC burns in.

I'll post a picture later this weekend after I reorganize my rack to fit the DAC in.
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I reorganized my rack. Everything is more organized. I should probably post this over in the Digital thread.

A couple of early observations about the Direct Stream DAC (DSD) MK1. It sounds really good. Currently playing through the BHK Peeamp and Orchard Audio amp and s400 mkII speakers.

I’ve been using the DSD via USB and comparing the output from the EverSolo A8 and the Zen Stream. Both are used as Roon End Points. Both are excellent.

I tried the I2S from the A8 to the DSD and it was not good. I used a random HDMI cable I had around and hope this is the culprit. I have a WiredWorld Spere HDMI cable on order. Hopefully this his will improve things. I’ll report back.

Lastly, I compared the DSD to the DAC in the A8 and the A8 holds its own. To the point where the DSD may make a trip back to PS Audio. I have a couple more weeks to test before I have to decide.

Or could the A8 be on the chopping block? I do like the look of the BHK stacked on the DSD.

IMG_2132.jpeg
 
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displayname said:
I think it’s really just two different types of customers.

One that loves to tinker and learn the machine inside and out. The hot rod specialist.

And one that simply loves the table, doesn’t modify it for years at a time, and will only let a certified tech work on it.

If I got a Linn, I would be never touch it until it needs it. I’d buy new, and when it needed maintenance or a new stylus or something every 5-8 years I’d call the dealer, set up the service appointment, and then say “while we’re at it, let’s talk about a new arm/plinth/power supply/chassis/etc”

So instead of a new table every several years, I’d just get new parts and upgrades for the Linn.
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exactly. nicely said. I ditched the thing for a feickert and never looked back....best decision for me. for someone else an opportunity to spend $4k on a CNC plinth...and chat about dressing.
 
Angsty said:
I do believe construction quality matters in a cable. Hope the new one fares better for you.

Just as FYI, BJC also sells a full range of HDMI cables for specific conditions.
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I looked at the BJC site for HDMI cables. It wasn’t clear which on of their offerings would be best for an I2S use case. I may email them and ask.
 
mindhead1 said:
I looked at the BJC site for HDMI cables. It wasn’t clear which on of their offerings would be best for an I2S use case. I may email them and ask.
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For I2S, the best combo is kind and price I found was a used Audioquest Carbon. I tried a Ruipro fiber HDMI I had at first and it sounded like ass (and I actually really like Ruipro for video), and some from Chord, Straightwire, an AQ Coffee (or Chocolate, the brown one, sorry) and I think Tributaries. I may have had an Audience as well, but that may have been a USB. Anyway, the Carbon was my fav of the bunch, and nowhere near the most expensive.

I also preferred the Carbon USB, that model line is just a gem for my systems.
 
mindhead1 said:
I looked at the BJC site for HDMI cables. It wasn’t clear which on of their offerings would be best for an I2S use case. I may email them and ask.
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I looked into this quite a bit back when I first got into i2s and it turns out that it’s even less demanding than 4K video because it can actually take any generation of hdmi cable, not just the latest or fastest. Other than that the same things matter as for any application such as shielding and construction quality.
 
My USM delayed again, one week fulfillment ETA now up to a month. Design Within Reach not inspiring much confidence to get my business again. Will probably go Symbol Audio next time, even though it's the same product.

First world problem? Absolutely.
 
mindhead1 said:
It sounded flat and muffled compared to the USB connection on which I have a nice Audio Quest cable. I’m not in the cable rabbit hole like @displayname , but I do believe they make ply a role in sound quality.
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What a difference a cable makes.

I picked up an AudioQuest 2.5’ Forest 48 HDMI cable this morning and have been listening to it this afternoon. It’s a noticeable improvement over the random HDMI cable I found in my closet and used to test I2S into the DSD.

Music sounds clearer and more dynamic. However, I’m not discerning much difference between I2S and USB from the EverSolo A8. Using a Pangea USB cable.

The interesting finding is that my Ifi Zen Stream (USB) sounds more open and airy and as dynamic into the DSD than the A8 (I2S or USB) and I think I prefer that sound. I’ll keep listening and see how I feel about this at the end of the week.

The Zen Stream is a quality device. I only use it as a Roon endpoint, but it’s been as good or better than any other streamer I’ve had in my system to date.
 
My digital side remains unsettled.

After using the Luxman for many long listening sessions using the Node as a streamer I decided to return it in my 30 day window.

The unit honestly sounded great while playing, What caused me to make the decision to return it was the relay clicking between tracks on Roon when the songs had different resolutions. Basically between every song the unit has a relay clicking sound and at times it also makes a quick squeak out of the speakers.

After a few hours it just got annoying and I couldn’t stop hearing it.

I have a Marantz SACD 30n on the way to give a listen. Have heard a lot of great things about it.
 
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Slimwhit33 said:
My digital side remains unsettled.

After using the Luxman for many long listening sessions using the Node as a streamer I decided to return it in my 30 day window.

The unit honestly sounded great while playing, What caused me to make the decision to return it was the relay clicking between tracks when using Roon playlists and the songs had different resolutions. Basically between every song the unit has a relay clicking sound and at times it also makes a quick squeak out of the speakers.

After a few hours it just got annoying and I couldn’t stop hearing it.

I have a Marantz SACD 30n on the way to give a listen. Have heard a lot of great things about it.
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Sucks the Luxman didn’t work out. Did you have similar issues with your D-03x? Or were you not using Roon then?

I’ve heard good things about that Marantz myself, and Marantz are usually very reliable as well.
 
SnowmaNick said:
Sucks the Luxman didn’t work out. Did you have similar issues with your D-03x? Or were you not using Roon then?

I’ve heard good things about that Marantz myself, and Marantz are usually very reliable as well.
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That’s the funny thing…. I believe it did. And it didn’t bother me because I didn’t know any different. But then I used the Eversolo for a few weeks and there was nothing like that between tracks.

The Luxman sounded marginally better to me than the Eversolo. It was enough that, combined with the fact that the screen on my A8 would randomly go on the fritz and have a frozen green screen with lines in it, I returned the Eversolo.

Once I went back to the Luxman, I loved the sound, but started to really notice the relay clicking.

I’m hoping the digital journey ends with this move as I feel a little silly about having 4 DAC’s in house since I sold my D-03x. It’s a real testament to how great the D-03x was and highlights why it was the longest tenured piece of equipment I’ve ever had. I didn’t think I would have such a difficult time replacing it. I was wrong.
 
mindhead1 said:
The DirectStream MK1 DAC arrived today. I got it connected to the BHK Preamp and started putting it through its paces. Out of the box it sounds really good. Soundstage and imaging are excellent. Everything sounds full and there is good space in the sound if that makes sense. You can hear all the instruments distinctly.

It really showed it stuff listening to Niel Young - Down by the River. The dueling guitar solos and bass line in that song can get jammed up on some systems. With the DirectStream DAC I could hear each of the instruments very clearly. Sounded great. Looking forward to the sound improvements other have mentioned as the DAC burns in.

I'll post a picture later this weekend after I reorganize my rack to fit the DAC in.
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I don’t need more/new stuff but you got me tempted…
 
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